Taiwan will inevitably go back to China, and only a fool would think otherwise.
First, let’s take a brief look at the history and culture of Taiwan.
During the communist revolution in the 1949, the overthrown leadership fled to Taiwan.
“The Great Retreat”, it’s called.
The island nation’s official language is Mandarin and 70% of the population has Chinese lineage. It’s essentially Chinese.
China’s communist party led by Xi sees Taiwan as part of China. He has sent strong messaging around his strategy for the reunification of Taiwan to China.
This will happen, it’s just a matter of time.
The same way Hong Kong’s democracy has eroded since the British colony went back to China in 1997.
The Chinese were very patient and slow boiled Hong Kong like a frog in a pot.
Thought Experiment
Let’s do a thought experiment for a minute to demonstrate why Taiwan is important to China.
Imagine if Puerto Rico produced most of the world’s legal drugs.
China become a large buyer of these drugs, second only to America.
Then Chinese officials starting courting Puerto Rican political leadership to sway towards Chinese ideology and expressed support for the island common wealth to declare its independence from America.
China started pressuring Puerto Rico to become an independent country with its full support.
How would American leadership feel about this?
It would go down like a turd in the church punch bowl after Sunday services.
Pelosi’s latest visit, against Biden’s and the Pentagon’s wishes, proves again how America’s foreign policy continues to be disjointed under the Republican and Democratic parties.
The American people are losing under this failing political duopoly that has produced over seventy Presidents who wouldn’t be fit to lead a boy scout troop into the woods, let alone set America back on the straight and narrow path.
Why does China give a crap about Pelosi?
They know she’s a troublemaker, that’s why.
Look, I can respect someone taking a stand against human rights violations as she did but you have to realize there are going to be consequences.
Nancy Pelosi’s long history of opposing Beijing is this Her final FU?
She’s openly criticized China on their own soil by pulling off a media attention grab
Most famously in 1991, two years after large-scale protests in Beijing were crushed by the Chinese government, she visited Tiananmen Square and displayed a banner honouring the deceased demonstrators.
For its part, the Chinese government has made no secret of its disdain for Ms Pelosi, once labeling her “full of lies and disinformation”.
China sees self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province and has not ruled out using force to unify it. It deploys significant pressure to dissuade other countries from recognizing Taiwan’s independence. –From the BBC
Before her visit, China warned of serious consequences if Ms. Pelosi went to Taiwan.
This trip appears to be more grandstanding for political attention.
Again, why would China care?
Well, think about this…
Imagine if a ranking Chinese leader came to New York on an official visit and unfurled a sign that said “Fuck America”.
That’s basically what Pelosi did during her visit in 1991 and why China is not exactly rolling out the red carpet.
Why Does America Care About Taiwan?
I believe most Americans don’t…but our political leadership does.
Why?
Taiwan is a democracy (arguably a puppet one) in the region. It’s one of the largest makers of microchips and you can guess why this is important in the computer age.
America is also the second largest trading partner of Taiwan.
Who’s the number one trade partner?
Wait for it…
China!
If China were to invade tomorrow there would be very little political support in the US to send in American troops to defend Taiwan.
China’s leader, Xi, knows this the same way Putin knew Americans would not support large-scale troops deployment when he invaded Ukraine.
The role the US would play in an invasion scenario would be the same as Biden’s Ukraine playbook.
Strong words of support in the press reading off the teleprompter, we’d send some weapons, and a get well soon card.
Taiwan is lost to China just like Hong Kong is playing out and there’s not a damn thing America can do about it except getting our act together and start playing global chess rather than three card monty.
Summary
American foreign policy has been a mess for the last twenty years.
We can look to Afghanistan and the destabilization of the northern Arabian gulf, and the continued failed state of Libya as case studies in American FP gone wild.
It’s important for Americans to understand this and for us to look at all interested parties when taking a look at how the globe is becoming a dodgeball tournament with team captains America and China picking their teams.
Team America vs. Team China.
Can you name the players on each side?
Our leadership in America needs to stop being so myopic if we hope to continue to lead the free world in this century and win at dodgeball.
The best thing we can do in America gets our own house in order with regards to political reform, healthcare, infrastructure, and education.
It’s time to stop talking out of both sides of our mouths and for the west to start leading by example.
COMMENTS
There are on this article.
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.